It seems kind of counte-rintuitive to use a plane to promote a train. But that's exactly what the Universal Orlando Resort did earlier this week. They jetted James & Oliver Phelps (AKA the two talented Brits who played Fred & George Weasley in the "Harry Potter" film series ) all...

I wanted to share a few photos (as well a quick, cute story) from last week's grand opening media event for " Transformers: The Ride - 3D ." Photo by Nancy Stadler The Universal Orlando Resort invited myself, Nancy and Angela to the pre-opening party. Where -- no matter what direction you...

So who here misses the Jersey Shore? And no, I'm not talking about that horrible reality television show with The Situation & Snooki . I'm talking about the REAL Jersey Shore . Places like Wildwood, NJ which -- thanks to some very smart doo wop preservationists -- still have that authentic...

I swear to God this story is true. Let me set the scene first: It's Friday, June 7th. And thanks to Tropical Storm Andrea , it's a cold, very wet day out here in the woods of New Hampshire. Photo by Nancy Stadler Anyway, via Skype, I'm doing a podcast with the guys who run Dis After Dark...

The Internet is really a wondrous place. Especially if you're a young person who's considering a career in animation. If you've ever considered becoming a character designer someday, you can always swing by Tom Bancroft 's Character Mentor Studio or Stephen Silver's blog and then...

Francis T. sent me this e-mail yesterday: I know that you mostly write about Disney. But my eight year old has recently discovered the Dreamworks animation movies and is now completely obsessed with Shrek . We're headed to Orlando next month. So I was wondering if you had any recommendations about...

Earlier today, Chris sent me a note which read: Hi Jim I am loving the daily why for entries. I heard that when planning a european park the original plan was to construct somewhere is Spain. if this is true why for did Disney feel the need to build it in France? As a Britt, I can say that the amount...

January used to be the start of the slow season at the stateside Disney Parks. How so? So slow that - immediately after New Year's Day -- Disneyland Park wouldn't even open on Mondays & Tuesdays. Copyright Disney Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved Which -- as far as the maintenance crew...

It's time to say "Good-bye" to " ... the mistake on the lake." Copyright Universal Orlando. All rights reserved That's what the skippers who worked on "Jaws" used to affectionately call this Universal Studios Florida attraction. Which will be closing later today...

It’s a problem that every theme park has faced at one time or another. As in: How to keep those turnstiles turning in the weeks & months just before a major new attraction opens. And in the case of the Universal Orlando Resort , there’s a very real fear among UOR managers that many Guests are now...

In God's Waiting Room (AKA Florida), you're bound to run into a few blue hairs over the course of your day. Though -- that said -- one wonders what the AARP would make of the bunch pictured below. Photo by Nancy Stadler Believe it or not, the multiple Marges that you see above aren't actors. They were...

Harry Potter fans rejoice! Construction of Hogwarts Castle is finally, officially underway at Universal Studios' Islands of Adventure. Though site prep continues in the "Lost Continent" section of that theme park ... Photo by Jeff Lange ... If you look to the right of those enormous gates next to "The...

My apologies, folks. I know that JHM has been somewhat erratic lately when it comes to maintaining our usual Monday-through-Friday publishing schedule. It's just that -- in order to score new stories for this website -- I sometimes have to do a little traveling. That's what I'm doing today, anyway. Flying...

There are many things that one might expect to hear at a full-service eatery at the Walt Disney World Resort . An attentive server asking a guest if they can get them another Coke. Or an anxious parent -- as they clutch their camera -- asking when's Mickey going to come through the restaurant again....

It's perhaps the most eagerly anticipated addition to Orlando's assortment of rides, shows and attractions in more than a decade: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter , which is slated to open at Universal Studios' Islands of Adventure in 2009 Copyright 2007 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved And...